And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW

Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta

The very fact that they haven't played each other in a while makes it interesting within itself, but there's also the fact that Pakistan are at such a crossroads at the moment. This will be a big test to see if they can push forward to truly joining the dogfight for #2 with India, England and Australia or if they're more likely to drop back into the group below with SL, NZ and WI. They really should win this series given it's a home against an inferior side but losing a Test to Zimbabwe and then beating South Africa in a Test soon after underscores their unpredictability.

I doubt Pakistan can be involved in the dog fight for the # 2 spot. There is to much reliance on Misbah, Younis & Ajmal all 3 in the last couple of seasons of their cricket it looked good for a while when Hafeez,Azhar and Asad were all contributing bit the team has regressed in the last year I feel in contrast to the odi side which is shaping nicely. Apart from Junaid there is no top class pacer on the horizon while the WK situation is as bad as it was when Kamran Akmal was finally relieved.

I doubt Pakistan can be involved in the dog fight for the # 2 spot. There is to much reliance on Misbah, Younis & Ajmal all 3 in the last couple of seasons of their cricket it looked good for a while when Hafeez,Azhar and Asad were all contributing bit the team has regressed in the last year I feel in contrast to the odi side which is shaping nicely. Apart from Junaid there is no top class pacer on the horizon while the WK situation is as bad as it was when Kamran Akmal was finally relieved.

Yep, fully agree with all those issues Pakistan have, which is why they're nowhere near being able to challenge South Africa for #1 any time soon. However, India, Australia and England all have serious issues too, particularly away from home. Pakistan are fully capable of entering that dog fight if they show some more clinical ruthlessness against the other mid to lower ranked teams at home.

You siding with the Pakistan selectors. Not the best of selection committees in the world

Haha, I definitely would've picked another specialist spinner here assuming the pitch is anything like UAE pitches usually are, but Hafeez definitely counts as a spinner IMO. He's underbowled at times if anything; he has a really good Test and FC record with the pill. He doesn't look much but he's often effective, a bit like Jadeja I guess.

The matches will be held in the UAE from 11th December 2013 till 20th January 2014. The NIB Bank Presents Cool & Cool Cup 2013 will comprise 3 Test Matches, 5 One Day International Matches and 2 Twenty 20 Internationals.